Fire protection.



`D. J. POWERS.

FIRE PROTECTION.

APPLICATION IILBD PEB. 25,1911.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

D. J. POWERS.

FIRE PROTECTION.

APPLIGATION FILED PI;B 25,1911.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

3 SHEETS-HEBT 2.

Jute; 'l

UN ITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD J'. POWERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 THE POWERS REGULATOR COMPANY, 'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION ',OF ILLINOIS.

FIRE PROTECTON.

specificati@ of Letters ramene Patented Sept. '26, 1911.

ARPliQation rled February 25, 1911. Serial No. 610,956.

, tection, .of which the following is a specifi- My invention relates to lire protection? systems, and is particularly I.useiul in con-l nection with cold -storage vchambers or vaults.

Great .difficulty has heretofore been expen rienced in Yobtaining' adequate protection for cold storage vaults, especially those used for f the storage of furs and the like. Two systems of Acooling have :been Fused: First, the direct system, in which theeooling coils are y located in the vault itself, and, second, the indirect system, in which .the .ai-r is previously cooled and is then impelled through the vaultby means of .a suitable blowen The direct system Qh-asbeen much more eX- tensi-vely employed than the indirect, on account of less .danger from fire since with the 1 indirect system there is a constant circula- 1 'tion .of air, and if a ire is once started it -is 4 .thus caused [to spread with great rapidity,I and faction of the icommonly used sprinkler system is Kgreatly retarded. Aside from the danger of lire :the .indirect system is muchI superior -to the direct, since in the former there is no formation odi frost in .the vault itself and an adequate ventilation is always .obtained .through lthe vault, -thus causing an .equal temperature :throughout the entire By my improved system of fire; rotection it is possible to use the indirect system .of'l cooling and at the same time to minimize the danger'from fire. I obtain 4this result by ,preferably providing a number .of thermo- 2 stats located in t-he vault and also -in the outlet :fiue leading from the same. These therl' Inosta-ts .control the operation of the ,motolj which actuates the `fan blower, :the dempers located :in both fthe -inlet and outlet flues, and a suitable alarm Vsystem in .case .the temperature rises :above a predetermined maXil mum. When any fire protection apparatus is supplied with Huid under -a predetermined l pressure, certain valve motors are eheld in such position tthat the switch controlling the l motor 'circuit -is.closed, the dempers are held .open and the alarm tcireuit remains ropen.

' .On .the other hand, when the .temperature rises above the predetermined maximum, fthe thermostats cause the pressure of the .above-mentioned fluid to be released, thereby :operating the 'valve motors and causin the motor circuit to be automatically opene the .dampers =,to close, and the alarm to be sounded.

It will be start in the `van t, by stopping ,the motor and the blower .which is .operated thereby, and shutting .the dempers, .circulation .of air and the supply .of oxygen therein are immediately stopped and the fire is thereby prevented from spreading with rapidity, and more promptly .operates the usual .sprinkler system .by Aallowing `the heat .to pass upwardly to .thesprinkler heads.

It will limmediately be apparent .to ,those skilled in the art .that this system is greatly superior 1to Aany which has .been heretofore employed, .as under normal circumstances a thorough Aventilation and .equal distribution ,of temperature are obtained in the vault and no frost i's formed therein. It is customary -to .use the well known type of automat-ic sprinkler lsystem in vaults of .this nature,

,and practical experience has shown 4that f from .the sprinklers is frequently eliminated by summoning assistance `before the temperature |has become sufficiently raised to bring the sprinkler lsystem into operation. It has likewise been roposed that the dampers should be operaged by fusible links, :but on account of the fact that such links only operate when the tem erature in their immediate vicinity is quite high, such would not be wholly eflicient.

These and other .advantages of my invenftion wil-1 be 4more readily .understood by reference .to ithe accompanying drawings, .which show a preferred embodiment of my yimprovements, and -in whichalpparent that should a fire Figure l yis a ,diagrammatic section through .two floors of a .cold storage vault with .the various .fire protection apparatus applied thereto.; Fig. 2 is a side 'elevation of a valve motor, showing `the electric motor switch associated therewith; Fig. 3 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 2; Fi 4 is a side elevation of the valve motor or voperating the dampers, and Fig. 5 is a vertical section through one of the thermostats Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. v

1 will rst describe'the detailed construction ofthe various devices which are usedA in my system, and will then pass to a dep scription of the system as a whole.

' One of the most import-ant devices usedl lin myv system is the thermostat 10, a vertical section of Which is shown in Fig. 5. Thisj thermostat consists of `a main frame 11,;

through which pass the ports 12 and 13.

The port- 12 leads to the valve chamber 14 while the port 13 leads to the chamber 15.

A diaphragm 16, held in position by thev ring 17, extends across the chamber 15.4

Passing through the centerof this diaphragm and secured thereto by the ring 18 isI the valve block 19, which engages the valve- Vstem 20. Connecting chambers 14 and 15 ,is

the passage 21, in connection with which is provided the beveled seat 22 for the beveled surface 23 leading from the valve stem 20 ,to the main portion of the valve 24. Valve 24 is provided with an annular projection- 25A, which 1s engaged by'one end of the compresslon spring 26, the other end of whichengages the inner' surface of the cap 27 lscrewed onto the projection 28 of the main "frame 11. It will be apparent that the spring 26 will normally keep the beveled 'surface 23 of the valve 24 seated against the seat 22, thereby cutting oil'` communication vbetween the chambers 14 and 15.,

Connected to the main frame 1'1 by means of the. spring 28a is the arm 29, the lowerv portion -3() of which is held in the main frame 11 by means :of the bolts `31 and 32 vpassing through the lower front portion 33 ofv the main frame 11. It will be evidentv that by a proper regulation of the bolts 31 and 32 the position of the arm 29 may be varied as desired.

Attached to the arm 29 by means of screw 34 is the hollow expansion disk 35, which is filled with chloroform, ether or some other volatile liquid, the vapor of which creates a 'strong pressure as the temperature in the vicinity of the disk rises. The valve block 19 engages the surface of4 the disk 35, so

that when this disk expands by reason ofan I will next describe the valve motors used inconnection with my system. The general principle of operation of the motor shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is exactly the same as that shown in Fig. 4, but the details of construction are somewhat diHerent. Each of the valve motors 36 has supports 37 for attachment to a Wall or the like. The general principle of operation of these valve motors is the same as described in Patent No. '7 64,819, granted to `William P. Powers July 12, 1904.

In the case of the valve motor 36, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bell-crank-lever 38 is pivoted to the arm 39. The arm 40 of the bell-crank-lever 38 is provided with a switch blade 41, which operates to close the circuit between the terminals 42. The arm 43 of the 44a of the disk switch 44 through the link 45b having the slot 45a. rIIhis disk 4switch tends to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction by means'of the engagement of the pin 46 by the plate 45, the plate 45 being actuated by the spring 47 which incloses the arm 48 pivoted at 49. Att-ached to the disk 44 are the switch blades 49', which serve to close the circuit between the terminals 5 50 and 51, 51.

As indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, the terminals 50 and 51 are bellied outwardly. in

. bell-crank-lever 38 is connected with the pin their lower portions, so that on movlng either ofl the blades 49 downwardly it is freed from contact with said terminals.

It will be apparent that when. the valve motor 36 is actuated by allowing air under pressure to flow thereto, the arm 40 of the bell-'crank-lever 38 will be depressed, thereby connecting the terminals 42, 42, whereas the arm 43 will be raised, thereby rotating the disk 44 in a clockwise direction until -pin `46 passes the center line. The spring 47 then becomes eiective and further rotates the disk 44 until pin 44a comes in contact with the upper end of slot 45a, in this way insuring the rem-oval ofthe blades 49 from the terminals 50 and 51, the right-hand blade 49, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being depressed and removed from contact with the ends of the terminals 51, while the left-hand blade 49 is elevated and similarly removed from contact with its terminals 50, thus breaking the circuit which controls the fan operating tlfie electric motor, as will be explained herea ter.

Similarly, when arm 43 is again de pressed, disk 44 is rotated in a counter-clocku wise direction until'pin 46 `again passes the center line, when the spring 47 becomes effective to further rot-ate disk 44 until pin 442L comes in contact with the lower end of slot 45a and the position of parts shown in.

Fig. 2 is resumed, the switch blade 49, shown on the right in Figs. 2 and 3, being elevated u-ntil it comes in cont-act with the upper ends of the terminals 51, and the blade 49 on the left being depressed until it similarly comes in contact with its terminals 50.

The valve motor 36, which is shown in Fig. 4, operates a lever 52 pivoted at 53, this lever in turn being connected with the link 54, which serves to close the dampers when the valve motor is operated, as will be hereinafter explained.

I will now describe my system as a whole: My system may be applied to a single room, or, as shown in Fig. 1, may be used in connection with two chambers 55 and 56 one above the other; or b changin the connections, as will be per ectly obvious to those skilled in the art, this system could, with equal facility, be applied to a plurality chambers occupying any desired positions.

Each of the chambers 55 and 56 has an inlet Ventilating pipe 57, having the inlets 58. Similarly, each chamber has an outlet pipe 59, having therein the outlets 60. The linlet pipes 57 are connected with the fan- .blower 61, operated through the belt 62 by the electric motor 63. The outlet pipes 59 are connected with each other, and lead through pipe 64 to the cooling chamber 65. in which there is a cooling coil 66. It will now be clear that when the fan 61 is operated air will pass into the pipes 57, then through inlet openings 58, into the chambers 55 and 56. The air will then be' carried through the-outlet pipes 59 ,.to the pipe 64,

lthence through the cooling compartment 65,

and again return to the fan-blower 61.

In the chambers 55 and 56 I provide the thermostats 10, the port 12 of each thermostat being suitably connected with the pipe 67 leading from the source of compressed air.'

The ort 13 ofeach thermostat 10 is connecte with a pipe 68 or Va suitable branch thereof. The ipe 68 in each of the chambers 55 and 56 eads to a pipe 69 connectin the valve motors 36, which are connected through levers 52, links 54 and arms 70 with thereby allowing the compressed air to esthe dampers 71.

The ipes 68 are connected with the pipe 72 leading to the valve motor 36 which operates the disk switch 44 and the switch blade 41. In the pipe 72 is provided therelease valve 73, the object of which will be explained hereafter. Associated with the terminals 42 is a circuit 74, in which is the alarm bell 75, this circuit 74 leading from the battery 76. It will be clear that when circuit 74 is closed, by inserting the switch blade. 41 between the terminals 42, the bell 75 will be sounded;

The motor 63 is included in the electric circuiti( 7, which is, in turn, connected with the terminals 50 and 51. In this circuit is also provided a controller 78. When the switch blades 49 close the connection between the terminals 50, 50 and 51, 51, it will be when this connection is broken, the circuit 77 will be opened and the motor 63 stopped.

Having thus described the construction of the various arts used in my invention, the operation ofp the same may now be readily understood. Compressed air is supplied through pipe 67 to the various thermostats 10, the valves 24 in these thermostats being normally seated, and thereby interrupting communication between the ports 12 and 13. The pressure in pipes 68, 69 and 72 is merely atmospheric pressure, and the valve motors 36 are in this way held in such positions that the dampers 71 are open, the switch 44 is closed, thereby operating the motor 63 and the blower 61, and the switch blade 41 is held away from the terminals 42, thus keep ing the alarm circuit 74 open.

f the temperature in the vicinity of any thermostat rises above a predetermined maximum, the valve 24 is unseated, and air flows from the pipe 67 into the pipe 68, thence into the pipe 69 and the pipe 72. The valve motors are operated b this increased pressure of air to close the ampers 71 and to open the switch 44 and close the switch 41. In this way the motor 63 and the fan blower 61 are stopped, and on account of the fact that the dampers 71 are closed, there will be no ventilation within either of the chambers 55 or 56. At the same time the alarm circuit 74 is closed, ringing the bell 75, and thereby notifying any attendants in the vicinity that the temperature in one of thel chambers has risen above a predetermined maximum.

When the temperature again falls below the maximum, the valve 24 in the thermostat which has been operated will become seated and communication will be interrupted between the pipe 67 and the pipesl 68, 69 and 72. It will be apparent, however, that air under pressure will still remain in the three last-mentioned pipes, and in order to release this air the valve 73 is opened,

It will be apparent to those skilled in thel art that many changes could be made in the construction of the parts which I have described without departing from either the spirit or scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a fire protection system, the combination with Ventilating means, of a source of compressed fluid, and means connected with said source of fluid for stopping the operation of said Ventilating means when the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum, substantially as described.

2. In afire protection system, the combination with'ventilating means, of a damper let, a source of compressed fluid, and meansv connected with said source of Huid for stopping the operation of said Ventilating means and operating said closing means when the temperature exceeds a redetermined lmaxim'um, substantially as escribed.

4. In a re protection system, the combination with a room having a Ventilating inlet thereto, of mechanism for blowing air through said inlet, a damper for closing said inlet, `and means for simultaneously stopping said blowing mechanism and closing said damper when the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum, substantially as described.

5. In a fire protection system, the combi- 1 nation with a room having a Ventilating inlet thereto, of mechanism for blowing air through said inlet, a damper in said inlet, and a plurality of controlling devices, whereby when the temperature in the'vicinity of any one of said devices exceeds a predetermined maximum the operation of said blowing mechanism will be stopped and said damper closed, substantially as described.

6. In a fire protection system, the combination with a room having an inlet thereto, of means for blowing air through said inlet, and a plurality of controlling devices associated with said blowing means, whereby when the temperature in the vicinity 4of any of 4said devices exceeds a predetermined maximum the operation of said blowing means will be stopped, substantially as described.

7. In a fire protection system, the combination with a room having a Ventilating inlet thereto, of electrically operated means for blowing air through said inlet, a switch controlling the operation of said blowing means, and means for opening the circuit controlled by said switch when the temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum, substantially as described.

' 8. In a fire protectionsystem, the combination with a room having a Ventilating inlet thereto, of electrically operated means for blowing air through said inlet, a switch in the operating circuit of said blowing means, and a plurality of controlling devices associated with said switch, whereby when the temperature in the vicinity of any of said controlling devices exceeds a predetermined maximum the said switch will be operated to break said circuit and stop the operation of said blowing means, substantially as described. I

9. In a fire protection system, the combination of a room having a Ventilating inlet thereto, electrically operated means for blowing air through said inlet, a switch in the operating circuit of said blowing means, a damper in said inlet, a source of compressed fluid, a controlling device connected with said source, and means connecting said controlling device with said switch and said damper, whereby when the; temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum the switch will be operated to open the circuit of said blowing means and to close said damper, substantially as described.

10. In a re protection system, the com-r bination of a room having a Ventilatingv inlet thereto, electrically operated means for blowing air through said inlet, a switch in the operating circuit of said blowing means, a damper in said inlet, a source of compressed fluid, a plurality of controlling 'devices connected with said source, and

means connecting each of said devices with said switch and said damper, whereby when the temperature .in the vicinity of any of said controlling devices exceeds a predetermined maximum the switch will be operated to break the circuit of said blowing means and the damper will be closed, substantially as described.

. 11. In a re protection system, the combinationV of a room having a Ventilating inlet and a Ventilating outlet therefor, means for blowing air through said inlet,

and a plurality of controlling devices lQ-' cated in said room and in said outlet, whereby when the-temperature in the vicinity of any one of said devices exceeds a predetermined maximum the operation of said blowing means will be automatically stopped, substantially as described. e

l2. In. a fire protection system, the oombination with a room having a Ventilating inlet thereto, Aof means for blowing air through said inlet, a source of. compressed fluid, a controlling device connected with said source, a moto-r connected with said controlling device, and means connecting said motor with said blowing means, whereby when the temperature in the Vicinity of said controlling device exceedsa predetermined whereby when the temperature in the vicinity of said controlling device exceeds a predetermined maximum, said motor will be actuated to stop the operation of said ventilating means, substantially as described.

14. In a fire protection system, the combination of a cold storage vault having a Ventilating inlet thereto, cooling means for lowering the temperature of said air before it enterssaid vault, and pneumatically controlled means for stopping said blowing means when the temperature of the air in said vault exceeds a predetermined maximum, substantially as described.

415. In a ire protection system, the combination with a cold storage vault having an inlet thereto, of means for blowing air through said inlet, means for cooling the air before it reaches said blowing means, a. damper in said inlet, and pneumatically operated means for stopping said blowing means `and closing said damper when the temperature in said vault exceeds a predetermined maximum, substantially as described.

DONALD J. POWERS.

Witnesses DOUGLAS MACCALLUM, J mmmA M. BUDDY. 

